Kempinski appoints new operations head

Kempinski Hotels & Resorts recently announced the appointment of Michel Novatin as Director of Operations. Novatin joined Kempinski on January 13th 2003. Reporting to the CEO, Novatin will be responsible for operations in all  Kempinski properties. Hotel General Managers, Regional Vice Presidents and Regional Directors will report to Novatin, who will be based at Kempinski’s world-wide headquarters in Geneva.

Novatin has broad, international experience. He joins Kempinski from Société des Bains de Mer (Monte Carlo), where he was Group Managing Director for five years of the Hotels, Restaurants and Gaming Company. Previously Novatin was Président Directeur Général of the Tourism Branch of the Danone Group, based at the Domaine du Royal Club Evian (France) for seven years,   large resort complex including hotels, restaurants, casino and golf courses. Novatin was also General Manager of several Inter Continental and Le Meridien hotels from 1972 until 1986 in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

 Novatin, 58, is a native of Alsace, France and speaks fluent French, German and English. He is married with two children.

Founded 105 years ago, Kempinski’s portfolio of over 30 properties comprises international grand dames, as well as breath-taking modern hotels and a growing collection of luxurious resorts. Landmarks include the legendary Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin, Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg, the  Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski in Istanbul and the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus in Budapest. 

Kempinski Hotels & Resorts has entered a phase of significant expansion. Kempinski’s first ski resort, Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in St Moritz, Switzerland, opened on December 15th, shortly followed by the openings of Le Mirador Kempinski in Vevey, Switzerland, and the Kempinski Hotel  Nikopolis in Thessaloniki, Greece. The Kempinski Grand Hotel in Heiligendamm, Germany, will open on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in May. 

The growth of the portfolio continues apace with the development of a huge Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, which will open in 2004 ; and in the same year Kempinski will open what will be the leading luxury hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil.